The Infrastructure and Buildings category in Victoria’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2013 has been won by RMIT University for its Swanston Academic Building (SAB), which comprises approximately 35,000 square metres of floor space over 12 levels, and is home to 850 academic and administration staff and 6000 students.

“The building, which is a Swanston Street icon, has deservedly been awarded a Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) 5-star Green Star Education Rating for environmentally sustainable design and stands as a showcase for integrating sustainability features in outstanding design,” Stan Krpan, Sustainability Victoria CEO, states.

Now in its eleventh year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards celebrate efficient use of water, resources and energy, better waste management and recycling practices, the enhancement of the environment and effective, practical community action.

Overall winner for the night, recipient of the Premier’s Recognition Award, was a project by Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre for introducing recycling to a community housing estate.

The full list of winners of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2013 are:

The Premier’s Recognition Award – Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre for taking recycling to public housing residents

The Premier’s Regional Recognition Award – Victoria Carpets for its work in energy and emissions reduction in its Bendigo plant

Innovative Products or Services Award – ModWood Technologies for development of Flame Shield, a wood-plastic composite for building in bushfire areas